elements

January 23, 2012 marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. A Dragon Year comes every twelve years and alternates Dragons based on five elements. 2012 marks the year of the Water Dragon. Other Dragon years are the Wood Dragon, the Metal Dragon, the Earth Dragon, and the Fire Dragon.

The Lunar New Year is celebrated by many Asian cultures including by individuals from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sydney, and Singapore. The Dragon, a “sacred creature,” is a symbol of power, courage, dignity, and good fortune in all aspects of life.

Come and celebrate Lunar New Year in Houston with Lions! Dragons! Fireworks! on February 4 & 5 from Noon – 7PM at the Viet Hoa Center in the Beltway Plaza, 8300 W. Sam Houston Parkway South with live music, dance, food, KidZone activities and martial arts. There will also be an evening show on February 4 from 7PM – 10PM. Admission is free.

Well, actually, it’s not official until June 21st, but I always mark summer by when I can jump in the pool and swim! Most area pools are opening this weekend for Memorial Day celebrations, and I fully plan to participate! With summer upon us, you may be wondering what to do to prepare for the elements of the outdoors. The ladies in my family love trying new products, and have found a few that we rely on to get us through the summer looking our best while still having fun.

Waterproof Makeup Waterproof mascara is a must if you are going to be swimming. I know that everyone has their preference when it comes to mascara, with the different brushes, colors, and formulas, however, I always go back to Maybelline Great Lash . It’s so reliable that I wore it when I gave birth to Baby!

Waterproof concealer is another one on my list that I actually don’t leave the house without – ever! I live in…I mean LOVE Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Undereye Concealer Clair II. I have to give my mom credit for this one – she had the wrong color and gave it to me to try – it was perfect for me! It may seem a bit pricey, but a little goes a long way. For a full eye look, try a waterproof eyeliner.

Protective Clothing
Protective clothing lines have been popping up in the past few years, and this may be the answer to all of our sunburn problems. While you will not see me in one of those draped adventure hats, there are other options. This is your excuse to wear a big, glamorous wide-brim hat, like the Stardust UPF 50+ Hat. For a cover-up, Mott 50 and Coolibar have great, easy-to-wear options. For Baby, the i Play Short Sleeve Tie Rashguard And Swim Diaper Set comes in 5 different prints.

One product, SunGuard laundry aid, will wash UPF 30 (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) into your own clothing, so you don’t have to buy special items. The protection will last for up to 20 washes, the same as many UPF garments that you can buy at a store.

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